This is my second time reading from this author, and while it wasn’t my absolute favorite, they’ve definitely become an instant read for me.

Starting off with the first half of the book

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I really couldn’t tolerate reading from Spencer’s point of view. His actions were so frustrating and self-serving that every chapter from his perspective felt unbearable. We get glimpses of his past with his first wife, and some of the things he says raise red flags, bordering on emotional manipulation—maybe even narcissistic, as his psychiatrist suggests. As the story progresses, it becomes clear just how much of a man-child he really is. By the end, I had lost interest in his character, and I wasn’t invested enough to care about his outcome.

As for Abby, in the words of her best friend, "You can't possibly be this dumb." And honestly? She wasn’t exactly proving them wrong. Love really does make you blind, but sometimes you need to take off those rose-colored glasses and see someone for who they truly are—especially when the truth is right under your nose. At least, by the halfway mark, she finally wised up.

The storyline surrounding the first wife’s disappearance had a lot of potential and could’ve been explored more deeply. I was hoping for more details or conversations to really flesh out that part of the mystery.

To be honest, someone was crying in every other chapter—by the end, I was so annoyed, I felt like crying too.

And now the second half and ending

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Big oops. Oh well as they say “you never truly know someone.”

Justice for Shannon, she was literally the best and only tolerable character in this book..🥰

I made a joke to myself last night while reading in bed, tossing out a few theories about what the twist might be—only to find out by the end that I was right? So, yay me, I guess? But then, when we get to the very end and the reveal about the first wife’s disappearance, I realize I actually did guess that too, even though I was just throwing out random ideas for fun. Regardless, I still enjoyed how it all played out. It wasn’t exactly a surprise, but the execution kept me hooked.

Lastly, if you’re looking for a fast-paced, popcorn thriller that’s easy to digest as a palate cleanser, give it a go and see what you think.

𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘎𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘉𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘈𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘗𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴. 𝘈𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘺 𝘰𝘸𝘯.💌💐

A fantastic thriller book. Truely addictive that keeps you guessing until the end. The different POVs are written in a clear and concise manner.

The twists and turns keep coming and it keeps you guessing right until the end when the biggest twist and turn occurs.

While the book was short for my normal standards I found Dane completely outdone himself with the twists and turns that came when you least expected it. I was thoroughly entertained the entire way through and devoured the book in mere hours because of how well drawn in the book kept me. I genuinely want to say so much more but spoilers! So I leave you with this... READ IT! It is worth the 223 pages, and you will be left wanting more!

His First Wife by Jack Dane is an absolutely compelling psychological thriller that draws you in from the beginning!

Abby is absolutely in love with her husband Spencer. Married for five years, she is just as in love now as when they first met. But when she receives a cryptic letter that says "You Don't Know Your Husband" she starts to question everything. As Abby and her friend Katherine start to look into Spencer, they find a string of women on social media and apps chatting with Spencer. And then there's the mystery behind Shannon his first wife who disappeared seven years earlier. Now as all of Spencer's secrets come to light Abby realizes she might not know Spencer at all.

I don't want to go into too much detail, but seriously this was a great book! This is my second read by Dane and hopefully not my last. Even though this is a short novel, it is jam-packed with secrets, lies and suspense. The way Dane writes his characters is brilliant, adding in enough emotion and detail to make them engaging. Fast-paced and concise this is a must read!

Thank you to NetGalley, Jack Dane, and Back Alley Press for this ARC. Expected publication date is February 21st 2025.

This book pulls you in immediately- it really is a fast paced, psychological thriller. It has just the right plot and character development, balancing the pace at the right speed the whole time. It’s only 223 pages and usually you’d think that’d be too short to pack everything in, but with this book I think less was more.

Abby receives a note that says “You don’t know your husband”, and what follows is a lot of twists and turns while she and her friend Katherine try to figure out what he’s up to and who he really is. Everything came across very authentic- you feel how Abby’s feeling and you dislike her husband.

This was my first book by Jack Dane and I would read another!

Jack Dane delivers a gripping, fast-paced psychological thriller with His First Wife, a story that immediately pulls readers in and refuses to let go. Despite its shorter length, the novel packs a powerful punch, offering all the elements necessary for a fully immersive and satisfying reading experience.

Dane masterfully balances suspense and character development, providing just the right amount of detail to make the characters compelling while maintaining the novel’s momentum. The pacing is relentless, keeping readers on edge as the twists unfold.

For fans of psychological thrillers, His First Wife is a must-read—concise, intense, and expertly crafted. Jack Dane proves that a story doesn’t need to be long to be thoroughly engaging and unforgettable.

Thank you NetGalley and Back Alley Press for the ARC of this book.

I very much appreciated how short this book was however, I felt like there wasn't enough character development to pull me into the story. Everything felt rushed and to the point and while I didn't expect the twists towards the end it wasn't enough to excite me, either. I'd label this as a popcorn thriller and, for what it was, it was fine but just not the type of book I typically gravitate for unless I need a quick palette cleanser.

'His First Wife' by Jack Dane, is a Fredia McFadden style psychological thriller. This quick read has a great storyline that is easy to follow, and the twist hit just at the right time. I would recommend this book to anyone new to thrillers or looking for a quick punchy read. The characters could have been developed a little more to give them some depth, and possibly creating a more organic connection with the reader. All in all this was a good read that left me wanting more. We will read this author again.

Kept me gripped all the way through and I read it in one very short sitting. Well paced and twists that kept me guessing right until the end

Thank you for the ARC. This book was a fast paced read. It held my attention and had twists and turns I didn’t expect. The husband was a douche but in the end, I felt bad for him. I didn’t see a few of those twists happen. I look forward to reading more by this author.

Thank GOD this one was short. This is by far the worst thriller I've read in quite a while. The marketing compares the novel to Frieda McFadden, so I wasn't expecting fantastic writing, but this was just flat out awful. I hated all of the characters, there was no redeeming qualities for any of them, and I honestly wished they all died in the end. That is the only way this thriller could have gotten any better.

This was a brilliant psychological thriller, with a massive twist I did not see coming. Loved it. Highly recommended for domestic noir/psychological mayhem 😀

His First Wife by Jack Dane

Abby and Spencer have been married for five years. Abby is deeply in love and committed to her marriage. Until she receives a cryptic five word letter. She begins to uncover a string of lies and betrayal. Suddenly women start dying. Is there a serial killer on the loose? A story based on love, obsession and betrayal.

Enjoyable read. Fast paced - short and sweet. Good plot twists!

Thank you NetGalley and Back Alley Press for the e-ARC. This is an honest review.

Loved it! First book I’ve read by Dane and it was a pleasure! I really loved the writing style, the multiple perspectives and the twists! Will definitely read more of his books.

The only criticism I had is that the female characters fall a little flat (similar and simple personalities) and that I would have loved to read a chapter or two from the perspective of Spencer’s therapist (maybe even his wife’s as well?)! I think it would have added another layer to the characters.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC - looking forward to release day!

I just cannot put this down! 

This is my first time reading Jack Dane’s work and “His First Wife” did not disappoint!



Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

My first book by this author and it won’t be my last!!! I absolutely loved it and was shocked at the twists!!! Well written.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this.

“You don’t know your husband.”

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5)

Spenser and Abby are happily married, or so Abby thought. She opens an anonymous envelope outside their door with the note “you don’t know your husband.” What makes it even creepier is 7 years prior, Spenser’s first wife went missing…

This note sends Abby down the “amateur detective” path and she enlists the help of her best friend Katherine to help. They start checking his tablet, in search of something, when they realize he’s been unfaithful, and one of those women has turned up dead…. She’s realizes, she may be in danger herself.

OMG this book was absolutely unhinged and I loved it! The story is told from three points of view, Abby, Spenser, and Shannon, Spensers first wife. It’s also told in the past and present. I can genuinely say I did not see this coming, maybe some of the smaller twists but dear lord that was just insane.

I read this book in four hours, as I couldn’t turn away. I love books like this that rope you in from the beginning and then just throw you for a loop. My first book by Jack Dane and it will not be my last!

Thank you to NetGalley, Jack Dane, and Xpresso Book Tours for an arc in exchange for my honest review.

What a wild read!! OMG! This is probably my favorite thriller that I’ve read so far this year. I could not put this book down! It captured my attention immediately and had my trying to figure out how to fit all the puzzle pieces together the ENTIRE TIME.

Abby loves her husband and is content with the life that they share until a mysterious letter shows up under her door one day, telling her that she doesn’t know her husband. As she starts to question and look for flaws in their perfect life, things get crazy!

Thank you NetGalley for an ARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This book is a fast and fun read that hooks you from the very beginning. The story revolves around a man, haunted by his past and the mysterious disappearance of his first wife. The story kept me intrigued with its twists and turns, and the multiple POV added an interesting layer to the plot. The short chapters make it easy to keep turning the pages, and the suspense builds quickly, making it hard to put down. I was immersed in the psychological turmoil of the characters. The plot twists are unpredictable, and the story explores themes of trust, betrayal, and the consequences of past actions. The characters are well-developed, and the pacing keeps the tension alive throughout the book.

Abby is married to Spencer, who she regards as the perfect husband. She receives an anonymous note that tells her only that she doesn't know her husband as well as she thought.
Spencer has no idea what his wife is capable of.

A short, quick read, twisty and gripping.
I loved the twists and turns, and disliked most of the characters!
The final jaw dropping twist was totally unpredictable.
Well written without any long descriptive paragraphs and long explanations.
I binged this in one night.

Totally recommend.